What must a video game have?

A video game must have several core elements to be enjoyable, functional, and engaging—whether it’s a simple mobile game or a blockbuster AAA title.

🎮 What Must a Video Game Have?

1. 🎯 Clear Objectives or Goals

  • Every game needs a purpose—whether it's beating a level, completing a quest, or surviving waves.

  • Goals give players direction and a reason to keep playing.

🔹 Example: In The Legend of Zelda, your goal is to explore, solve puzzles, and defeat evil.

2. 🕹️ Responsive Controls

  • If the controls feel sluggish, clunky, or unresponsive, it ruins the experience.

  • Good games feel “tight” and natural to play.

🔹 Example: Super Mario is known for its smooth jumping physics and responsive movement.

3. 🎨 Visual and Audio Feedback

  • Sound effects, music, and visuals must respond to player actions (like attacks, hits, and item pickups).

  • These cues make the game feel alive and rewarding.

🔹 Example: In Call of Duty, every gunshot, reload, and headshot has rich feedback.

4. 🧠 Challenge and Progression

  • A game must offer increasing difficulty or evolving complexity.

  • Players should feel they're getting better or unlocking new things.

🔹 Example: Elden Ring offers open-world exploration and tough enemies that reward strategy and patience.

5. 🧩 Meaningful Choices

  • Games are interactive, so players should have control over how they play.

  • Choices might affect story outcomes, skill builds, or play styles.

🔹 Example: In Mass Effect, dialogue choices affect the entire storyline and character relationships.

6. 📜 Story or Context (Even if Minimal)

  • Even simple games benefit from a theme or setting (like a jungle, castle, or futuristic world).

  • Story helps players become emotionally invested.

🔹 Example: Undertale uses storytelling in surprising ways to make every decision matter.

7. 🌐 Polish and Functionality

  • Games must run well, load fast, and be mostly bug-free.

  • Glitches, crashes, or broken mechanics ruin immersion.

🔹 Example: Indie game Hades is beloved for being well-polished despite a small development team.

BONUS: What Makes a Game Truly Great?

  • 🎮 Replayability

  • 👥 Multiplayer or community features

  • 💡 Innovation or unique mechanics

  • 🧘 Emotional impact or fun factor